Access to reliable electricity is the backbone of any modern economy. It is even more important with the digital revolution. If African nations want to see their economies transform, the issue of electricity must be tackled head-on. Access is only the starting point, however. Expansion needs investment, too, and for that, utilities must make money. Yet all over the region, utilities are running at a loss.

Southern Africa has access to a wealth of primary renewable energy sources, with enough geothermal, hydro, wind and solar resources to provide gigawatts of power. However, the adoption of low-carbon technologies is uneven and hampered by technical, financial and regulatory barriers that slow down

Access to the electricity network for the populations of northern Burkina Faso (SONABEL)
In Burkina Faso, a majority of the population doesn’t have access to electricity. For Moussa and his family, it's a real handicap. We have therefore financed a project to develop access to the electricity network with Sonabel, within the framework of the Sahel Alliance.
Find out more ► the Sahel Alliance website
Read the project note

Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) have decided to give their support to the Regional Social Sciences Summer University, referred to as “Tam Đảo”, in the framework of partnership agreement. This partnership has the objectives of developing a multi-disciplinary training of excellence, creating a

over a surface area of 2 million km2). The deficit in the productive supply of the industrial sector—at a time when demand from Indonesian households and enterprises is increasingly dynamic—partially explains the rise in imports of goods and services (76% of imports of raw materials and intermediary

the production of new forms of renewable energy and hoped to produce a demonstration effect – inciting similar initiatives elsewhere.
The project was highly relevant and in keeping with the national objectives. The performance of the wind farm fell well short of what had been predicted, but the

In South Africa, for the “Wind power” sector, Eskom’s Sere Wind Farm project was subject to an evaluation in December 2017.
Climate change has launched a quest for sustainable development, which Eskom saw as an opportunity to implement efficient usage of clean energy in South Africa. It has

Located in the South-West of Ouagadougou, Zagtouli, the biggest solar plant in West Africa – and the first in Burkina Faso - has been build. In a country where 19 million inhabitants have no access to electricity, having a reliable, cheap and efficient energy supply is crucial.
Financed by AFD

projects very well as both of them not only met the established goals, but sometimes even exceeded them. An efficient and innovative urban heating was implemented which considerably improved access to heat supplies in Jinzhong and Taiyuan. The projects are now leading a new trend in the Chinese district

In 2014, Africa accounted for 16% of the world’s population, less than 6% of energy consumption and 3% of greenhouse gas emissions. With an average annual economic growth rate of 4.5% over the past five years, Africa is experiencing increasing demand for energy and a significant need for